Apple’s MacBook Pro is undoubtedly the fastest and most powerful notebook computer Apple has ever launched, but it’s not without its problems.
Apple has started addressing the issues by replacing affected machines with a new “Revision D” logic board. The revision of your logic board is only identifiable by the serial number. You can get the serial number from inside the battery bay or by clicking on “About This Mac” in the finder and clicking twice on the software version number.
Read the rest of the story on my ZDNet Blog: The Apple Core.

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As I lay on my couch on Saturday afternoon enjoying my iPod’s AOQAD smart playlist (Artists Of Quality And Distinction: all songs in my iTunes collection by Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, Lloyd Cole, Beatles, U2, Elvis Costello, Aimee Mann, Vigilantes of Love, Mike Scott, Jellyfish, Emmylou Harris, Lucinda Williams and Ryan Adams) I wondered whether it would be worth investing in one of the devices that are now available that let me control the iPod remotely.
It occurred to me that this is all backwards. The iPod isn’t much bigger than most remote units, its hard drive is bigger than many laptop computers, and its battery life is substantial. Why doesn’t Apple install WiFi, Bluetooth, RF and infrared transponders in an iPod, so it can be used as a universal remote AND to wirelessly transmit the music/video stored on it to an Airport Express unit connected to existing AV equipment?

Some companies like Aozora, though, are embracing the latest Macs, citing that they are much less susceptible to crashes, offer more functions that businesses need and are viewed as more secure in terms of viruses and spyware than PCs that run on Windows. What’s more, Apple is in the process of moving its entire line of Macs to microprocessors, or the brains of PCs, made by Intel Corp. Those chips are allowing Apple to create Macs that could appeal to more businesses — smaller, thinner machines that consume less power and perform functions faster. So with Mac OS X and the huge hardware transition under way, both Apple and analysts believe the company may have its best shot in years at expanding its tiny share of the business market.

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The Wall Street Journal’s Jim Carlton published an interesting article “Secrets of the Tech-Savvy Traveler” that contains some good tips on finding free WiFi while on the road:

Once you’re ready to hit the road, you should figure out where you can get online along the route. Some travelers recommend the Web site WiFiFreeSpot.com, part of the JiWire network, which lists free hot spots in airports and hotels around the world.
Of the 471 Wi-Fi-enabled airports in the U.S., for example, the site says roughly one-fourth of them feature free Wi-Fi in all or part of the terminals. Many are at smaller fields like Lubbock International Airport in Texas; these airports often cater to private jets, whose wealthy owners increasingly rely on Wi-Fi on the road.

The 10.4.6 Update is recommended for all users and includes general operating system fixes, as well as specific fixes for the following applications and technologies:
- login and authentication in a variety of network environments
- file access and byte range locking with AFP file sharing
- network access when using proxy server automatic configuration files
- connecting to Cisco VPN servers using IP/Sec
- using Bluetooth wireless devices
- searching iWork ’06 and Microsoft Office documents with Spotlight
- saving Word documents automatically when using a network home directory
- creating Automator workflows for iPhoto 6
- synchronizing contacts and calendars to .Mac and mobile phones
- mounting and unmounting iDisk volumes
- compatibility with third party applications and devices
- previous standalone security updates
For detailed information on this Update, please visit this website: http://www.info.apple.com/kbnum/n303411.
For detailed information on Security Updates, please visit this website: http://www.info.apple.com/kbnum/n61798.

As always, the PowerPage recommends waiting at least 72 hours before installing any software updates on a production machine.